“Looking Unto Jesus” Hebrews 12:2
The power that flowed out if Christ’s life flowed into Him continuously from
the Father because Jesus’ selfless spirit had no desire for anything other
than to spend every living moment pleasing His Father and doing His will
alone. The imagery is that of a hand in a glove. As though Jesus was the
glove and the Father the hand.
“My food (nourishment and satisfaction)
Is to do the will of Him that sent Me
And to complete His work.” John 4:34, Parentheses
added
Jesus’ statement, “losing your life to find it”, may rightly be expressed
“losing your proud sinful self to find a new utterly dependent self”.
The problem is, the old-self seems to have its own resurrection-power;
constantly attempting to reassert itself.
There is only one way to remain willing to renounce the old-self. It is by
maintaining a devotional heart-attitude and continually beholding the beauty
of Jesus; His glory and perfections.
“Behold, how great is His beauty,
and how great is His goodness”. Zechariah 9:17
“Thine eye shall see the King in His beauty”. Isaiah 33:17
“Yea, He is altogether lovely”. Song of Solomon 5:16
When, in contrast to the purity and beauty of His life, His true follower
sees his own old corrupt selfish-self for what it is, he will long to have
it crucified, that a new Christ-like spirit might emerge.
Remembering that His perfection is our potential.
“.That we might be conformed to the image of His Son.” Romans 8:29
John Wesley declared that John Fletcher, Pastor at Madley, was the holiest
man he had ever known. It is said some had difficulty believing he wasn’t
actually an angel. The simple, stated theme of Fletcher’s life was:
“Live looking at Him”.
Our heart-vision of Christ becomes clear and transforming as we feed on the
living words of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. There is no other source.
Without this steady inward vision of the Savior all man-made advice and
clever spiritual techniques are frustrating substitutes for His reality.
“It is the Spirit that gives life,
The flesh is of no profit: the words
I speak to you, they are spirit, and
They are life”. John 6:63, Emphasis added
It is only as we allow the Word of Christ to dwell in us richly, that we
will behold His glory, and this creates within us a dominant desire to be
made more and more like Him.
In the words of C.H. Spurgeon:
“He who most clearly discerns the perfect character of
Jesus will be most urgent in prayer for grace to grow
like Him”.
Commenting on Hebrews 12:2, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of
our faith.” Spurgeon writes,
“They lived with Jesus, they lived for Jesus,
And therefore they grew to be like Jesus.”